The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-26
THE CLEVELAND SENSATION.
The Papers Insist Cleveland Does
Not Want a denomination.
What the President Is Alleged to Have
Told a Friend.
Hon, William Dorsheimer Makes {
Positive Statement.

sonal feelings have been received in such a
spirit Dy the press and people that he must
now see that not even an official and author
itative declaration OF resolution not to 60
before the people for second term can ar
rest any popular inclination to his re-elec-
tion.
The realization Of the substantial results
so swiftly following the publication Of Sat-
urday's despatch leads some Of the eastern
papers to surmise that the telegram was de-
liberately put out of the White House for a
feeler. The supposition is wholly fallacious.
The telegram went to the Republican with
out instigation from either the President or
the Senator with whom he talked. The
PRESIDENT spoke freely, but upon the prompt
lngs OF the moment only and without any
special purpose, while the Senator recounted
the conversation afterwards to personal
iTiends iheI,d without intending that what he told
circulation as a matter of such interest
naturally would, and it was heard by quite
number OF people before it came finally into
print: 1t is, of course, possible that the
senator may have misunderstood the words
OF the President or misled his friends after
wards in recalling the Pres sident's declara-
tlon by lack Of preciseness in his own
language
One insignificant fact in connection with
the reported expression Of the Presidents
view has not escaped attention. No denial
has yet been made by the President himself,
or even professedly at his direction. Col.
Lamont has said he is quite sure that the
President has never said he would or would
not accept denomination but this is not the
statement OF the President or does not even
prereha to be for the President. That the
President wiz, lot say openly to the public
that he Is reported tols2ve said privately to
Senator in no manner chsSges the fact.
The project Of a letter t0-eo. given formal
ly to the public this spring, which is report
ed on the double authority of -Sclonel
Dorsheimer and Smith NJ. Weed of New
York, is only corr0bOrative testimony. At
least one member of the Cabinet has said
again and again recently that the President
neither wanted nor would accept a renom-
ination. OF his disinclination at least there
has been no denial even within the past two
days"
1t was said in Washington that the Sem
ator referred to in Saturdays despatch was
Senator Vest That gentleman denies utter
ly that he ever said anything at all resem-
bling the words attributed to the Western
Senator in the despatch regarding the Presi-
dents denomination; yet he believes that
the only foundation for the publication was
something that he said. He does not doubt
that he is the Western Senator referred to.
81 have never" said he to a reporter yes
terday, spoken to newspaper man upon
the subject. The correspondent of the st.
Louis Republican. by which the story was
printed, l have not seen, that remember,
since Congress adjourned. Since my atten-
tion was called to the publication, have
been trying to recollect anything that
have said at any time that might possibly be
made the foundation for this sensation !;
and l have come to the conclusion
that this great newspaper oak must
have grown from. an acorn which |
dropped in conversation with some friends at
Chamberlin's a few days ago. There were
some district Democrats present who were
not friendly to the President, and they de-
clared that Cleveland was working for re-
nomination. They said that his appoint
ments of the negroes to the office Of recorder
of deeds were made to bring him back to the
White House on the colored vote. Several
other acts of the President were enumerated,
with the statement that they were all done
to gain a denomination and a reelection. /
remember that very distinctly demurred.
/ replied that knew it was not so that Mr..
Cleveland was not only not working to be
re-nominated, but that he did not want
second term; that what he was working for
was to leave the government in such q shape
that any good Democrat could be elected,
and think l added on that occasion, by way
of STRENGTHENING my authority, that he told
me so himself. But how such a story as has
been published could be concocted from
these materials, don't know. / certainly
never said anywhere that Mr.. Cleveland
would refuse a denomination IL his party
desired him to serve again. On the contrary
If things continue as they are going at pres
ent there is very little room to doubt that
Mr.. Cleveland will be re-nominated and re-
elected. 1t is certain that today he c0uldsbe
elected over any other man in the country.
BUFFALO, N. Y, April 25-The CONNER
cial Advertiser today says: AN important
point bearing on the present discussion as to
whether President Cleveland does or does
of ont 70 ha 70 M fad roaahac no from
an entirely trustworthy source and is as fol-
lows: A prominent Democratic politician of
Rochester. Colonel Blank, who is an intimate
personal friend of Mr. Cleveland, visited
Washington recently to talk over the Roches-
ter post Office appointment with the Presi-
dent. The gentleman was one of the most
enthusiastic boomers for Mr., Cleveland in
Western New York during his campaigns for
Governor and President. They talked over
old times and variety OF topics came up.
Finally the Rochester man rose to withdraw
and remarked tot he President that he had not
been in Washington for twenty years and did
not care to come again unless. he added, L
should come to see you inaugurated for a
second term The President replied with
great emphasis: My dear Colonel, If you
wait for that event you will never come
The Rochester man protested, bat the Presi-
dent, putting his hand ON his visitors arm,
said: No earthly consideration could induce
me to accept another term. When finish my
present term Of office expect to retire from
public life.'"
NEW YORK. April 25.-Hon. William
Dorsheimer makes the following statement:
I'm view of the reports which have been
sent out by the Washington correspondents
OF some Western newspapers, l think IL
proper to make the following statement In
January last the President said to me he
had been contemplating making a public
declaration which would take him out of the
field as a candidate in 1888. He said he was
led to this conclusion, not only by personal
considerations, but because he thought such
course would relieve him from imputations
which were daily cast upon him, and which
interfered with his usefulness in office. At
ter listening to the Presidents observations,
and supposing he wished an expression of
my opinion, told him L thought such a
declaration would be very unwise, and that
it would increase his perplexities rather than
diminish them. also said It was not Tor
him to say whether he would be candidate
for reelection or not, that that was matter
pc bsd him % %sreaR and Wbo snd
right to his services If they desired them.
/ also urged no tradition would be broken by
his candidacy for second term, and that 1t
would be most important to his party and
country that he should be reelected. After
| long conversation upon this subject, the
| effect of which was as | have stated, the
matter was dropped and has not since been
| alluded to except in casual manner. i
nave never mad In my possession letter
| from the President with reference to a sec
| ond term, nor have l ever seen such letter
| or the draft of one. l have not been in
| Washington since the 4th Of this month. II
| the President has arrived at the determina-
| tion suggested in his conversation with me
| last January, do not know it; but know
| ing well his character. am confident If he
| thinks it his duty to decline denomination
he will make his intention public in way
which will render a misunderstanding Of il
impossible.
HOW TO BREATHE.